Why breed specific legislation should be stopped

Updated on March 1, 2011

Animals have rights too regardless of breeds

Breed specific legislation is growing as a disease, a devastating disease that is taking over the country with no respect to canines and their owners. Targeting Pit-bulls, Rottweilers, Akitas and many more, breed specific legislation has the enormous flaw of stereotyping dog breeds without considering other factors.

When we think of it carefully, breed specific legislation is the equivalent of human racial stereotyping but with the only difference of directing it towards our canine friends. It is a slap in the face to responsible dog owners and dogs that are often better behaved than the average Golden Retriever.

Breed specific legislation is ultimately the equivalent of banning people from a neighborhood simply because their color of skin or religious affiliations have been associated with higher levels of crime. This is far from happening in a human scenario because as humans we hold on to our rights and make sure such an injustice will never occur. Just the thought of such an unjust law being passed would create havoc and riots on the streets. But when such injustice touches our canine companions there is no voice to defend them from such stereotyping.

What legislators should instead look into is the dog's history. If a particular dog regardless of breed exhibits aggressive behavior the owners should be warned and if necessary the dog should be banned from society. It is a mere, obvious fact that all dogs have teeth and that all dogs may bite.

There have been reports of sweet dogs such as Labrador Retrievers and Golden Retrievers causing severe bite injuries. There is even a report of a Labrador puppy mauling and killing a 2 month old infant! Even president's Bush Scottish Terrier bit a reporter trying to pet him!

More and more breeds are being added to the list causing unnecessary heartaches to owners of well tempered,obedient and well socialized four legged friends. Many of these dogs have been awarded the Canine Good Citizen Award, others are pet therapy pets, while some are put to work in search and rescue efforts. The remaining are just ordinary dogs that love people and are loyal to their family.

Responsible dog owners have nothing left to do than educate people on how well tempered banned breeds may be when in the right hands. It is unfortunate that because irresponsible owners have encouraged distasteful traits in some dogs by abusing them and neglecting them, ALL specimens of the same breed must pay.

Such generalizations are further ignited by the media's reports. The latest news of that Pitbull attack raises interest and sells just as the latest airplane crash or that famous actor's latest infidelity. Yet people still fly and singles still marry because they know that such occurrences are not that common.

Common sense and justice should prevail against such unjust legislation. Hopefully legislators will enlighten and learn to punish the deed and not the breed. In the meanwhile, public awareness should be put forward on how sweet that Pitbull dog can be and how it deserves love and attention as any regular dog.

Very dangerous puppy ,beware!

We love Pitbulls!

Dogs are dangerous. And they are more dangerous to children than to adults. Not as dangerous of course, as kitchen utensils, drapery cords, five-gallon water buckets, horses, or cows. Not nearly as dangerous as playground equipment, swimming pools, skateboards, or bikes. And not remotely as dangerous as family, friends, guns, or cars. Here’s the reality. Dogs almost never kill people. A child is more likely to die choking on a marble or a balloon, and an adult is more likely to die in a bedroom slipper related accident. Your chances of being killed by a dog are roughly one in 18 million.

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Comments 6 comments

I definitely agree-I read once that Cocker Spaniels are the number one biters on record. I dont think we will be banning them anytime soon. I have had firsthand experience with some very sweet Pit Bulls...

Raggits 7 years ago

I've had several occasions to spend time with pit bulls, akitas, dobermans, (I bred dobies) and very lovable Rotts. And a small very dedicated Schnauzer/Lab cross who thought I was HIS only. You are very right it is a lot in the handling.

Great hub. :)

chaos 6 years ago

Bush did not have a mini schnauzer. Barney was a scottish terrier. But other than that this was a good article

KnottyK Marketing 5 years ago

Great Article, I have just wrote a Hub named Dangerous Owners or Dangerous Dogs? Check it out if you can. Thanks

Imzadi83 4 years ago

Very good article. I'm all for protecting people from dangerous dogs but BSL isn't the answer. Dangerous Dog Laws and education have been proven to do better and they protect against dangerous dogs of any breed. BSL also makes people complaent about other dog breeds. They think it's fine if their untrained Lab, Pomerian, or Daschaund is left alone with the baby, it's not a Pit Bull right? But there have been dogs of all those breeds (and every other for that matter) that have mauled and killed infants. All dogs should be propery trained and socialized and monitered, regardless of breed. BSL doesn't enforce, or even teach this. I worked in a shelter and met many wonderful loving and gentle Pit Bulls.

alexadry 4 years ago from USA Author

Thank you for commenting. Hubby and I lived with my sister-in-law for two months. They were initially a bit concerned about having our Rotts around their child. They both actually loved the child even though we never took our eyes off them. Then one day grandma came over with her Dachshund and she dared to bite the child on a finger breaking the skin. My Rotts came running and blocked the Dachshund from the child in a protective mode. Just to say how things can be deceiving in the canine world.., I was bitten by dogs several times and they were always the unsuspected poms, chihuahuas and labs..